The Porfian Princess: The Chronicles of Cornu Book 4

by L J Dalton Jr.

  He wasn’t sure what to do at the Resting Lion. The King had informed everyone that they would be paying respects at the graves of the men who died protecting the Royal Family. After getting settled, they all left for the small cemetery where the men were buried. There was a solemn ceremony where prayers were said for the dead, and the King once again assured everyone that their loved ones were being taken care of.

  The King himself gave Sergeant Tullie a medal for his quick thinking in organizing a rescue party. Roddrick thanked him as well. Vidar also was praised by the King and the rest of the Royal Family for all his efforts. Both were appreciative.

  When they sat down for the meal, everyone was relaxed and happy. Christiana told Roddrick how Michael and Catrina had almost ripped each other’s clothes off in the hallway after the assassination attempt. And how attracted to Catrina he was and how worried he was that the Crown Prince would run him out of the kingdom. That brought a good laugh from Roddrick. He could just picture it in his mind. His good friend Michael wanting Catrina and her pursuing him yet being worried about her father. It was something most young men could relate to. Plus, he’d seen it himself.

  When they left in the morning, Roddrick wasn’t sure how the day would go. They would be passing the place where the ambush took place. That might trigger bad memories. He was ready for anything.

  When they got to the place in the road know as Bart’s tree, they stopped. It was a large maple that Bart’s body had been nailed to. There was nothing left of him; the elements and the wildlife had seen to that. None the less they all stopped, and the Royal Family, along with Roddrick, assembled in front of it. Christiana looked at the tree and cursed Bart and then spat on it. The others just turned and went back to their carriages. They were in effect saying; we made it, you didn’t, we won.

  When they got back in the carriage, Roddrick looked quizzically at his wife. She said. “I would have peed on it, but that wouldn’t have been lady-like.”

  Roddrick laughed so hard he had tears running down his cheeks. Soon Christiana joined him.

  The Wedding

  The wedding of the heir to the Sudlund throne was a big deal. It was also a chance for the various members of the nobility to mingle and do business and to check potential mates. Duke Marvon was in charge of overall security. He had his own internal security people, plus some trainees. Steedman was in charge of the sharpshooters who would be covering the wedding procession.

  He and Steedman, accompanied by Brandt and Rolf, had already picked out the spots they wanted sharpshooters to be positioned. Rolf asked his father why he picked certain spots, and his father carefully explained why he did. He knew the boy was trying to learn as much as possible. Duke Marvon also explained how internal security would work. Rolf soaked it up like a sponge. Brandt learned the outlines of what needed to be done. Both boys were doing their best to learn as much as they could. That pleased both Steedman and Duke Marvon.

  When Marvon was talking with Randall, he mentioned it. “Young Rolf is like a sponge on the security preparations. Asking questions that shows he understands this. Brandt is along for general knowledge. Both young men are eager to learn. Brandt is going to be a good husband of someone who is a ruler, and Rolf is someone who will be a good man that is in charge of the Guard.”

  Randall nodded. “Michael says that Brandt has already gotten his advisors together for wherever he goes. He was just missing somebody from the military side, and Rolf fills that bill nicely. He’s got science, trade, manufacturing, and now military all picked out. Neither Michael nor I think that he’s thinking that far ahead, but it is working out.”

  “Don’t think that you aren’t the only ones who have tumbled to that. Others are starting to notice. King Modius is hoping that his youngest and Brandt will become involved. If that’s so, the council will declare her the heir. They may do that anyway as she is the brains in the family. The other girls are nice but not that impressive. He knows that his kingdom needs a stronger hand to be successful.”

  Duke Dravid and Crown Prince Randall found themselves alone for a bit. The two old friends discussed the wedding. Dravid looked at the Crown Prince. “Now I have some idea about what you went through. My daughter is a nervous wreck, and my wives aren’t far behind. Her sister is considering murdering her before the wedding. The only one who isn’t an issue is the youngest. She’s thrilled that she gets to hold some flowers during the ceremony. Other than that, everything is going fine.”

  “I understand completely. Some wine seemed to help at our affair. How’s the groom holding up?”

  “I’ve no idea. That’s Queen Lonidia’s issue. Although I understand that Storven is doing his best to help Mathias weather the whole thing. They have the poor boy doing this and doing that. What do you think of this color, of this arrangement? I heard Storven telling him just to try and sound definitive without being definitive. Good advice for a husband.”

  Randall laughed. “Michael called it being a ‘gofer.’ Go for this, go for that. I think it’s an appropriate term.”

  Brandt and Rolf were walking around the courtyard of the Palace. Brandt was giving Rolf a tour, and Rolf was trying to see where he would place sharpshooters to protect guests. An attractive young woman approached them. “Cousin Brandt,” she called.

  Brandt turned and hugged his cousin Solidara. “Solidara, it’s good to see you. How are you? This is my good friend Rolf.”

  Rolf nodded to the young woman. “Hello Solidara, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “It’s nice to meet you too, Rolf. Brandt, it’s only three days to the wedding. I’ve made it this far, and I haven’t killed my sister yet. Although trust me, the thought has crossed my mind more than once.

  That brought chuckles from both boys. Solidara was just a few months younger than Brandt. “Solidara, I expect that both Cat and Chris would tell you that they had the same thoughts. Both of them managed to survive.

  Hey, this makes you the new heir to the duchy. How does that feel?”

  “To tell you the truth, I haven’t even thought about it much at all. Of course, I’m going to have to have the right husband for that to happen.”

  Brandt smiled mischievously. “Well, there are several potentials here right now. Rolf and I could gather them all together, and you can check them out. You know, line them up, and you could just go down the line.”

  Solidara laughed and playfully hit Brandt. “That so nice of you to offer, cousin. But I’ve got time yet. What about you, cousin? You’ll be very eligible in a few years.”

  Brandt managed not to look uncomfortable. “I’m still too young to be much of a target. Although Rolf here is practicing his protection, so he’ll protect me.”

  Solidara looked at Rolf quizzically, “Yes, my father is in charge of the sharpshooters to protect the wedding. We found that was very important in Princess Christiana’s wedding. We don’t expect it to be a problem here. But I’m trying to learn. And yes, it’s my job to keep all the young girls from mobbing Brandt.”

  Solidara smiled. “Well, that means you should have it easy. Marta is already not all that pleased with him since he spurned her.” Looking at Brandt, “She’s going to be very attractive; this should teach you a lesson.”

  A sheepish-looking Brandt admitted it. “Yeah, so I’ve been told.”

  The three of them continued to talk and walk in the Palace. Solidara took over being a tour guide. As they walked along, they were joined by a couple of Solidara’s friends. Brandt remembered Michael telling him to be nice to all girls, so he was as gracious as he could be. Rolf didn’t have to be told. If he hadn’t been, his mother would have boxed his ears.

  Queen Lonidia, Aneetee, her co-wife, and Storven were in their quarters discussing the wedding. The Queen looked at her husband. “How is our son holding up?”

  “Fairly well, Petor and his betrothed are here, so that should help things along. Petor will help Mathias, and he’ll return the favor in a couple of months.�
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  Aneetee laughed. “Wait until our daughters go through this; it won’t be nearly this easy on us. I talked with Alania, and Annette is a nervous wreck and driving everyone crazy. Her grandmothers are helping some, but the parents can’t wait until this is over. They’ve got two more to go, Solidara and Wrowina.

  Solidara is considering murder. Wrowina is just excited that she’ll be holding flowers at the wedding.”

  Both of the others agreed that the marriage of their daughters would not be as easy.

  Mathias and Petor were talking. “Mathias, how are you holding up?” asked Petor.

  “Not bad, considering. All I have had to do so far is go in and agree that this or that will be perfect at the wedding. I certainly have no idea. My father told me to just fake it; objecting just wouldn’t be worth it.”

  “Good advice. I’ll think I’ll follow it in a couple of months. Sharon and her mothers are already talking about the wedding. Her father is staying out of it entirely.

  When all this is over, I’ll be moving to Sudlund, as we discussed. Sharon is anxious to start a research station there. With Elizabeth in Tantulus, that means we’ll really start to upgrade farming techniques, medicine, and engineering in more of Landia. Sharon and I both tend to the engineering side of things. We’ll have to recruit some people for medicine and farming.”

  Mathias nodded. “I talked mother into sending more people to the research station to study their methods of developing crops and livestock. We were already sending people for medical training. She immediately agreed so that we can recruit our farming people from those people.”

  As they were talking, Brandt and Rolf came by. Mathias looked. “Well, here come two without a care in the world. No pressure. Except you Prince Brandt are still on young Marta’s naughty list.”

  Brandt shrugged. “So, I’ve been told. How was I to know she’d turn out pretty and that I’d get interested in girls. Just another lesson in life. How are you doing, Prince Mathias?”

  “Good, the nerves haven’t hit yet. Master Rolf, are you here with your father learning how to protect big events like a wedding?”

  “Yes, your grace I am. I’m learning and practicing protecting Prince Brandt. Mostly now, it’s keeping the girls from mobbing him. But Marta is helping with that.”

  “Well, what are you going to do when our young Prince wants to head off someplace private with some young lady?”

  Before he could answer, Brandt spoke up. “He’s also been tasked by your mother the Queen that if you try and make a break for it before the wedding, he’s to shoot you in the leg, and then we’re both to drag you back.”

  Mathias looked confused at first and then started to laugh. I’ll remember this at your wedding, young Prince. Petor as my advisor, you’re to remind me when the time comes.”

  “Of course, your grace. As his brother-in-law, Michael says payback is a bitch.”

  They continued talking when Normon came up. He wanted to talk to Petor about engineering.

  “Petor, I want to talk with you about how you put that village together and the prefabricated blocks. I saw them being produced that is so neat. It makes building easier.”

  Mathias agreed. “He’s right, Petor, that technique is something we should document how to do. A short book would do, and then Nordia and Sudlund could both publish it. It would be something for our printing industry to do.”

  “Yes, but I’ve got this wedding coming up and then the move to Sudlund; I’m not sure how soon I can get to it.”

  Normon piped up. “I’ll help. I can interview you and write the draft, and then you can correct it. It would be great; I’d love to do it.”

  Petor looked at him. “Normon, are you interested in engineering and building things?”

  “Yes, that’s what I want to do.”

  “Talk to your father, and if he agrees, you can come with me to the Research Station, and we can work on the book there. I know that Michael has big plans for iron and steel production, and he needs help. I’m sure he’d be happy to have you. At first, it will be a lot of what he calls grunt work, but it will lay the foundation for your education. You can also hit the library at the Research Station; we have books on Engineering there.”

  “That’s a great idea; I’ll do that. I’m sure my father won’t have any objections.”

  The entire Nordian Royal Family was staying in one apartment. There were plenty of bedrooms, and they all got along well, so it wasn’t an issue. They were all sitting around talking about the wedding. Randall wanted to know how the bride was holding up.

  Juliana replied. “It’s not how the bride is holding up. It’s how those around her are holding up. She’s nervous and anxious and being difficult.”

  With that, both Juliana and Serverna looked at Christiana. “Who me, difficult? I was a perfect angel.”

  This brought some rude comments from all the others except Roddrick, who had enough sense to keep quiet. The conversation then switched to some of the others that they didn’t see that often.

  King Fredricke mentioned that he’d had time to talk with King Modius of Turkmenia and his second oldest daughter and her husband. “Nice people, but not particularly sharp and extremely hesitant. His youngest is cut from a different cloth—Smart and, I think, and not a shy one. The King complimented me on Brandt, which was nice. The youngest just rolled her eyes.”

  Serverna spoke up. “Yes, her mothers cornered Juliana and I and were all about how lovely it would be if Sylvia, that’s her name, was to marry Brandt. They were sure that the council would declare her the heir, with such a fine husband by her side. I think that’s why you got the eye roll for the young girl. If she’s like you say she is, she’ll want to make up her own mind about such things.

  Speak of it, here comes our own Brandt and Rolf. Hello boys, how has your day been?”

  Rolf bowed slightly; he was staying with Brandt to make sure that he had the company of at least one of his friends. “Quite well, my lady, thank you.”

  Brandt agreed it was going on OK. “I did run into the group from Moria. They were all over me. They were asking me questions, being very nice to me. Except for the youngest, Sylvia. She wasn’t nasty or anything, but she was a bit standoffish.”

  “Brandt, I wouldn’t worry; her parents think that the two of you would make a good match. They’ve done this without consulting her. She’s not the type of girl to go along with that unless it was her idea.” Serverna assured him.

  The two boys headed to their room. When they got there, Rolf said. “Dude, you are not having a lot of luck with the ladies right now. First, there’s this cute girl Marta whom you blew off. Then there’s this Sylvia, who looks like she’s going to be quite pretty, and she’s put off as well. I hope this isn’t catching.”

  Brandt just threw a pillow at his friend, who laughed. “Yeah, well, maybe Marta will pay attention to you, just to spite me. You could do worse. But this saying we should get married. No wonder the girl feels that way.”

  The two friends talked for a bit and then got ready for bed and started to read before they went to sleep. Brandt’s love of books had infected all of his friends, although their tastes differed. Rolf liked reading history, especially military history. Not that there were that many wars on Cornu.

  Time went by quickly, and it was finely time for the wedding. Everyone got dressed up, and Steedman, Duke Marvon, followed by Brandt and Rolf, inspected the security. Brandt asked Steedman. “Major Steedman, do you expect any kind of trouble?”

  “To be honest, my Prince, no, I don’t expect anything. As far as the Duke and I can tell, we’ve put a good scare into the assassins’ guild, and they’re the main threat. But I’d rather be prepared, and nothing happen, than not be prepared and have some sort of disaster.”

  Duke Marvon agreed, and both the older men were satisfied with the preparations. The Duke and Brandt went to be in the wedding procession, and Rolf stayed with his father.

  The wedding went off withou
t an issue. The bride looked stunning in her wedding dress, and the whole city turned out for the celebration. The Duke and his family were well-loved and respected by the people, which carried over to his children. Once they were married, it was time for the celebration.

  The people in the streets were already celebrating as the carriages made their way back from the main temple to the Palace. There they went into a feast and dancing. Rolf rejoined Brandt, and they sat at a table with people near their age. True to Brandt’s prediction, Marta sat right next to Rolf and started to talk and flirt with him, much to Rolf’s pleasure.

  Brandt found himself next to Sylvia, and it was at first awkward. Finally, Brandt leaned over. “I understand that your parents think that maybe we should get married. It seems a bit premature, don’t you think?”

  Sylvia replied. “Prince Brandt, I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t want to marry you.”

  Brandt smiled. “It’s Brandt, and I can see that. Let’s make a deal then-No marriage.”

  Sylvia smiled back. “Deal, now that’s out of the way, I’ve got some questions. I’m going to go to the research station when I’m older, and I’d like to know about it.”

  “No problem, I can give you a good idea. I spend a good deal of time there, as do my friends. One of them, James, is the grandson of Dr. Jorgenson. You can also ask my Aunt Alania; she spent a lot of time there when she was younger. Her two oldest have as well. Wrowina will probably go as well. That will make my grandfather happy to have a young granddaughter around.”

  They spent time talking about the research station. Brandt danced with her and a couple of the other girls. One girl caught his eye. He looked around for his protection, Rolf, and noticed that both he and Marta were missing. He smiled and went with the girl he was with into the garden for a more private ‘talk.’ Life was good.

  At Nordport

  Catrina and Mike were hanging in there. Lauden had figured out that he could get away with a lot less than he was hoping. That didn’t particularly upset him. He had plenty of toys, playdates, Mike and Catrina played with him, he got stories read to him. It was a pretty good situation.